Directorate of distance education

Systematic Layout Planning
In some cases, managers may want to summarize nearness on a 
subjective scale with factors other than activity levels and costs. 
Systematic 
layout planning (SLP)
involves using the codes and matrix shown in 
Exhibit to arrive at an appropriate layout.
We begin the solution procedure by procedure by positioning 
department pairs that are categorized as absolutely necessary and those 
that are categorized as undesirable. Once these pairs are positioned, it 
is possible to work on the very important, important, and somewhat 
important categories to locate the remaining departments in the layout. 

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Notes
210
Exhibit displays the layout using this approach. Departments R and F 
are positioned first. Then, A and T are positioned. Because T and D are 
undesirable, they are put at opposite ends of the facility. This gives the 
location of department W by default.
We can use a simple evaluation procedure to judge the effectiveness 
of this solution. First, we count the number of times each code appears in 
the matrix in Exhibit. Next, we count the number of times each condition 
is satisfied. For codes a, e, I, and o to be satisfied, the departments must 
be adjacent, as departments A and R are, or diagonally opposite, as A 
and Ware. Any location satisfies code u because the relative location 
of that pair of departments is unimportant. Separation by one or more 
departments satisfies code x.
Matrix Codes
Information for Systematic Layout Planning for a Machine Shop
Solution and Valuation of Machine Layout
The percentage satisfied column in Exhibit indicates that the 
proposed solution is effective at meeting the nearness codes. This approach 
works well on problems with relatively few departments.
A
R
F
T
W
D
a Absolutely necessary
e Very important
i Important
o Somewhat important 
u Unimportant 
x Undesirable

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Notes
211